All in the Family

What started as a blank concrete shell is now one of the most-used areas of the house,” Jane Henderson says of the lower-level transformation near Ann Arbor that she and her designer daughter, Stephanie, of Ann Arbor and Chicago-based Jane Henderson Interiors, recently completed. After working with the client on converting a large pole barn into office space and car storage, the pair was invited back to work on the 8,500-square-foot main house.

Set on “a beautiful and very private piece of property,” the home’s 3,500-square-foot lower level was “completely raw and unfinished” when the team stepped in, Jane Henderson recalls. “The vision was to create a true wellness retreat for a fitness-focused family — a place where performance, recovery, and relaxation could all live under one roof,” she says. “Because the basement was an open, unfinished shell, the goal was to carve out distinct zones for a gym, recovery area, spa, and family entertaining, while still maintaining natural light and visual flow throughout.”

Challenges included low ceiling heights and limited natural light. “The client came to us with an ambitious wish list: an elite-level gym, a full spa and recovery suite, billiards and gaming, and a comfortable gathering space for a large family,” she says. “Even with a generous footprint, the difficulty was in giving each zone its own identity while still ensuring the entire level felt cohesive and connected.”

The goal was accomplished by carving the lower level into a series of zones that allow multiple activities to happen at once without interrupting one another. Custom iron and glass doors divide the zones while allowing light to travel through, which keeps everything feeling open and bright. Tied together with warm wood tones, textured brick, and layered lighting, the thoughtful design helps balance the high-energy gym areas with the calm of the spa, Henderson explains.

The gym has professional-grade equipment, integrated storage, and what the designer calls “a motivating neon moment” — a lit-up sign that encourages users to “Go One More.” The spa includes a custom infrared sauna, a cold-plunge tub, and a recovery lounge. Custom furniture and reclaimed wood beams invite relaxation in the living area. Matte black fixtures, ribbed details, and natural finishes unify the separate zones and create a mix of modern luxury and organic warmth, Henderson explains. “Dad can be training in the gym, mom can relax in the sauna, and the kids can be in the lounge playing video games or billiards. Everyone is in their own zone, yet still connected.”

While it’s the first project the designers have done that focuses so fully on wellness, “more and more clients are looking for spaces that support unwinding, resetting, and recharging at home,” Henderson says. The project supports the family’s daily life and their wellness goals, and encourages them to spend time together, she explains. “A finished basement can easily become an afterthought, but when it’s approached with intention, it can transform the way a family lives in their home.”

MORE INFORMATION: jhendersoninteriors.com